Software Engineer, Research - Human Data
Software Engineer, Research - Human Data

Software Engineer, Research - Human Data

London Full-Time No home office possible
Go Premium
OpenAI

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join the Human Data team to build systems for AI model training and evaluation.
  • Company: OpenAI is a leading AI research company focused on ensuring AI benefits humanity.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, relocation assistance, and competitive compensation with equity.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping how AI learns from human values in a collaborative environment.
  • Qualifications: Strong software engineering skills and experience in full-stack development are essential.
  • Other info: OpenAI values diversity and offers equal opportunities for all applicants.

Software Engineer, Research – Human DataHuman Data – San Francisco and London, UK

About the TeamOpenAI\’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. A key part of achieving that mission is training models that deeply understand and reflect human preferences — the Human Data team is at the heart of that effort.

The Human Data engineering team creates the systems that enable scalable, high-quality human feedback. These systems are essential to how OpenAI trains and improves its most advanced models. Engineers on this team collaborate closely with world‐class researchers to bring alignment techniques to life — from experimental ideas to production‐ready feedback loops.

About the RoleWe\’re looking for software engineers to join the Human Data team and build the platforms, prototypes, tools, and infrastructure that power how our AI models are trained, aligned, and evaluated. You\’ll partner with researchers and cross‐functional teams to bring alignment ideas to life, influence future model training, and shape how models interact with the real world.

We\’re looking for people who are excited by technical ownership, enjoy working across the stack, and are eager to solve ambiguous problems in a high‐impact, fast‐paced environment.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role, you will:

Build and maintain robust full‐stack systems for feedback collection, data labeling, and evaluation pipelines, while maintaining high levels of security.

Translate experimental alignment research into scalable production infrastructure, including inference and model training stacks.

Design and iterate on user‐facing tools and backend services to support high‐quality data workflows.

Partner with researchers, engineers, and program leads to shape feedback loops and model interaction paradigms.

Drive infrastructure improvements that enable faster iteration and scaling across OpenAI\’s frontier models, from internal research tooling all the way to production ChatGPT.

You might thrive in this role if you:

Have strong software engineering fundamentals and experience building production systems at scale.

Enjoy full‐stack development with end‐to‐end ownership — from backend pipelines to user interfaces.

Are motivated by high‐impact collaboration with research teams and solving novel, ambiguous problems.

Are excited to shape how AI systems learn from human preferences and reflect a broad range of human values.

Care deeply about inclusive tooling and building systems that enhance model safety, reliability, and usefulness.

About OpenAIOpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general‐purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

For additional information, please see OpenAI\’s affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policy statement.

Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US‐based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non‐public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non‐compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Compensation$255,000 – $405,000 + offers equity

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Software Engineer, Research - Human Data employer: OpenAI

OpenAI is an exceptional employer, offering software engineers the opportunity to work at the forefront of AI research in vibrant locations like San Francisco and London. With a hybrid work model, competitive compensation, and a strong focus on employee growth and collaboration, OpenAI fosters a culture of innovation where your contributions directly impact the development of safe and inclusive AI systems. Join a team that values diverse perspectives and is dedicated to ensuring that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.
OpenAI

Contact Detail:

OpenAI Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Software Engineer, Research - Human Data

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in AI and machine learning, especially those related to human feedback systems. Being able to discuss recent advancements or research during your interview can demonstrate your passion and knowledge in the field.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your full-stack development experience by preparing examples of past projects where you’ve taken ownership from backend to frontend. Be ready to explain the challenges you faced and how you overcame them, as this aligns with the role's emphasis on technical ownership.

✨Tip Number 3

Network with current or former employees of OpenAI, particularly those in the Human Data team. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights and potentially give you a referral, which can significantly boost your chances of landing the job.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss how you would approach ambiguous problems, as this role requires innovative thinking. Think of specific scenarios where you've successfully navigated uncertainty and be ready to share your thought process during the interview.

We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer, Research - Human Data

Strong software engineering fundamentals
Full-stack development experience
Experience building production systems at scale
Proficiency in backend pipeline development
User interface design skills
Knowledge of data workflows and evaluation pipelines
Collaboration with research teams
Problem-solving in ambiguous environments
Understanding of AI alignment techniques
Experience with security best practices in software development
Ability to iterate on user-facing tools
Familiarity with model training and inference stacks
Commitment to inclusive tooling and model safety
Adaptability in a fast-paced work environment

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Software Engineer position on the Human Data team. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks such as building full-stack systems and collaborating with researchers.

Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience in software engineering, particularly in full-stack development and production systems. Emphasise any projects or roles where you've worked on data workflows or collaborated with research teams.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for AI and how your skills align with OpenAI's mission. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to solve ambiguous problems and your commitment to inclusive tooling.

Showcase Technical Skills: In your application, be sure to detail your technical skills, especially those related to building scalable systems and user-facing tools. Include any programming languages, frameworks, or technologies you are proficient in that are relevant to the role.

How to prepare for a job interview at OpenAI

✨Understand the Mission

Before your interview, make sure you grasp OpenAI's mission to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity. Familiarise yourself with how the Human Data team contributes to this goal, as it will show your genuine interest and alignment with their values.

✨Showcase Your Technical Skills

Be prepared to discuss your software engineering fundamentals and any experience you have with full-stack development. Highlight specific projects where you've built production systems at scale, as this is crucial for the role.

✨Prepare for Collaboration Questions

Since the role involves working closely with researchers and cross-functional teams, think of examples that demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled ambiguous problems in a team setting.

✨Emphasise Inclusivity and Safety

OpenAI values inclusive tooling and model safety. Prepare to discuss how you can contribute to building systems that enhance reliability and usefulness, reflecting a broad range of human values. This will resonate well with the interviewers.

Software Engineer, Research - Human Data
OpenAI
Location: London
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

>